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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Shock drugs and driving in Republic
Treacy Hogan Belfast Telegraph
Thursday 03 Jun 2004 HUGE numbers of motorists in the Republic are driving under the influence of drugs, an Irish government survey has revealed. It found that seven out of 10 drivers (68%) tested by gardai had no alcohol taken but were positive for one or more drugs. And one quarter of all male drivers under 25 years of age tested positive for drugs, particularly cannabis and cocaine. But drivers are rarely prosecuted for drugs driving, despite the official evidence gathered by the State's Medial Bureau of Road Safety. A full-scale review of legislation is expected to allow prosecutions to be routinely brought for drugs driving, similar to the drink driving court system. "Driving under the influence of an intoxicant is one of the major factors contributing to road traffic crashes," revealed the bureau in the first nationwide study commissioned by the Government. There is now "a significant drugs driving problem in Ireland", it concludes. The extensive survey of 2,000 motorists - the biggest of its type in Europe - stopped by gardai found cannabis was the most prevalent drug used, found in six out of 10 drivers. The typical drug drivers are young males driving in urban areas smoking cannabis with little or no alcohol taken. The findings will be linked to the growing number of unexplained fatal crashes often involving young males in single vehicle accidents in the early hours of weekends. The report found: Some 15.7% of all 2,000 drivers tested by gardai after being noticed driving erratically had one or more drugs taken. Of the 2,000 drivers, only 1,000 had taken any alcohol. A total of 33% of drivers under the legal alcohol limit were drugs positive. A shocking 68% of the 1,000 drivers with no alcohol taken were positive for drugs. And of those in the under 25 age group some 25% were positive. Almost 20% of the 25-34 years olds also had drugs taken. The research team was headed up by Professor Denis Cusack, the bureau's chief medical officer, who described the findings as "stark". Professor Cusack said there had also been a dramatic increase in driving while under the influence of cocaine.
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